Liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus



` C. L. MERRIMAN l LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS l July 17,1928.

1 lNvENoR /QAMo-QB of Mm' NEY l July 17, 192s. l 1,677,285V

C. L. .MERRIMAN l 1 LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July24, I19221 2` sheets-sheet 2 lNVENTOn mee BY am ab.

ATTORN Patented July 17, 192,8.

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CABROIL L. MERBIMAN, 0F FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOE TO WAYNE COMPANY,

F FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

LIQUID MEASUBING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Application illed July 24, 1924. Serial No. 727,934.

My invention relates to liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus of theso-called visible type, used particularly in selling gasoline.

6 The visible container is preferably provided with a fixed drain-backpipe and the container is adapted to be filled above the level of saidpipe and thereafter immediately automatically drains back therethrough10 to zero on the scale usually provided in connection with saidcontainer. It is also provided with an adjustable tube onthe serve sideof the apparatus so that if from a five gallon container the purchaserdesires to buy two gallons of li uid, the container may be filled, theadjusta le tube brought down tothe proper level, the serve valve openedand the iquid drained from the container tothe two gallon level. If thecustomer then orders another gallon, the tube is lowered accordingly andthe additionalv allon dispensed, the serve tube being t en at the threegallon level, and so on until the' customers tank is filled or thecontainer emptied, all without refilling the container 1n whole or 'inpart. Each such measurement will be accurate.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus of the character indicated, which will measure with accuracy'different desired quantities of the liquid to be dispensed, it bemgpossible to dispense a plurality of se arate quantities, the sum ofwhich is within the capacity of the container, without rellingsaidcontainer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus 'of few andsimple parts, every operation of which is in plain view of the customer.My invention isillustrated in they accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a gasoline measuring and dispensing apparatus in verticalsection on the ,line 1-1 of Fig. 2, the fill pipe, drain-back andoverflow pipes .andattendant valves be` ing shown in full; the bottompart of the v casing and filland overflow pipes being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an elevation on the serve-tube side of the aparatus with thebottom part of the casing roken away.

)Fig 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section on the 55 line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings A is the elevated visible container, madeof glass or other transparent material with to a vented at a and Ibottoma1. vThe contalner A is provided with graduations a8 to indicate by thelevel of the li uid being dispensed from said container t e number ofgallons served.

The structure is supported upon a suitable pedestal B. Gasoline isforced from the 4source .of supply (not shown) by any suitable means(not shown) through the'fill pipe C into the' visible container A,fillingplt to above the top of the o en-ended fixed overflow ipe D.Return ow of liquid through the lilll pipe C is prevented by a checkvalve e. Excess liquid in the container A is drained back to the souzrceof supply through the overiowipe D, which terminates on a level with t ezero graduation on the scale. All liquid can be drained from thecontainer A to the overflow pipe D and thence to the source of supplythrough the drain-back pipe E controlled by the valve e. Withfthe levelof the liquid standin at the maximum serve level, that is zero, vegallons in this apparatus, theoperator is ready to serve gasoline to acustomer.

Through the bottom a1 of the container A 85 y is an opening connected bya cored passage or, as shown in the drawings, by fittings forming aconduit al", extending substantially horizontally to and connectingwithV a verticall 4positioned well H. Through 90 this condult a1gasoline flows from the visible container A to the well- H and the flowis. controlled by the valve an. This valve may be omited withoutsacrificing accuracy of measurement, and, as so constructed, .the flowof li uid being dispensed may be qulckly arreste by elevating the tubeF.

f Upwardly through the well H extends the tube F, which has an openingto admit gasoline from the annular space etween the 10o exterior wall ofthe tube F and the interiorwall of the well H. The tube F is closed atthe bottom by a cap fs and to this cap is fixed a handle f* used invertically adjusting the tube F. The well H has a stulling box h at itsbottom and another stuiliii box h1 at its top so as to make leak-tight]oints between the well H and the tube F. The tube F terminates above ina -vented drain valve fitting I of any usual type, provided with a hoseconnection i and with guide lugs il with openings zpierced by guide rodsa, The well H is secured at the bottom to the pedestal B by a bracket h2and the top is secured directly to the container bottom a1 by bolts la.sor in any other suitablemanner.

Quantity stop mechanism of any conf venient form is provided toaccurately limit the downward movement ofthe tube F as desired. Themechanism shown consists of a quantity stop rod G with stops g, g1, g2,g and g* thereon to limit the depression of the tube F by contactwiththe lug f so as to limit-A the quantity of liquid dispensed to 1, 2,3, 4 or 5 gallons respectively. A

While in service, for accurate measure- Erneut the tube F always remainsfull of gaso- The vent hole i in the drain valve I and the vent hole ainthe container vent fitting a maintain atmospheric pressure at alltimes on the surfaceofthe liquid in the tube F and'con'tainer YArespectivel to insure the same level of liquid in the tu as in thecontaiiier at the completion of any delivery for which the tube F isset.

Many changes may be made in this apparatus without departing from thespirit of my invention and all forms of apparatus readable upon theclaims -fnally allowed hereon are within the scope of my invention. lThe operation of the apparatus is as folows:

Assume that the particular apparatus has never been in use; forcegasoline into the container A until it is full to above the level of theoverflow pipe D, the tube F being in any position desired,for instanceinthe position shown in igs. 1 and 2, which is extreme raised ition. Theconduit a1m will .lill with gasoline to the valve a. Then open thevalve-a11 andlower the tube F until it is filled with gasoline Vandoverflows through the hose connection 1'. The tube F being now full ofgasoline, let us suppose that a. customer comes and orders threegallonsfof gasoline.. The container A may be filled, that is, untilwhen'all excess gasoline has been run back to storage through the'.ixedoverflow pipe D, the top level of the gasoline in the container Astanding at O, that is, showing five gallons in the container ready tobe served. The operator rotates the stop g2 until it rests in thevertical path of the lug f". Then the operator grasps the tube F isfurther lowered until said lug coiitacts with said stop. The valve a11is aga-in opened :indheld open until another gallon has been served andso on. p

When the container A is to be drained back to storage, the tube F may beleft in any position. the Yvalve e is opened and kept open until the lhas all drained ack through the drain-back pipe E and through theoverflow pipe D to the source of supply. l

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States 1. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing'apparatus having an elevated container from which' liquid is dis--pensed, a vertically ositioned well through which the liquid dispensedpasses, a conduit connecting the bottom of said container with saidwell, a vertically adjustable outlet tube closed at its lower end andextending `through said-well, an opening in said tube,

at such a position as always to remain within said well to admit liquidfrom the well to the interior of the tube, vented means secured to thetop of said tube adapted to form a cap for same, and a conduit throughwhich liquid may be served from said tube.

2. In combination with a liquid measurf ing and dispensing apparatus'having an asoline in the container A elevated container from whichliquid is diswhich the liquid dispensed passes, a conduit connecting thebottom of said container with said well, a vvertically ad'ustable outlettube closed at its lowerend an extending through said well, an openingin said tube at such a position as always to remain within said well toadmit liquid from the well to the interior of the tube, a vulvecontrolling the flow of liquid through said tube and vented meanssecured to the top of said tube adapted to form acap for same, and aconduit through which liquid may be served from said tube.

3. In combination with a liquid measuringl and dispensing apparatushaving a. transparent elevated container from which liquid is dispensed,a well through which the liquid dispensed passes, a conduit adapted todrain the contents of said container'into said well, an outlet tubeslidably adjustable vertically, closed at its lower end and extendingthrough said well, an opening in said tube at pensed, a verticallypositioned well through r iio.y

interior of the tube, a valve controlling the flow of liquid throughsaid tube and vented means secured to the top of Said tube to :form acap for same, a conduit through which liquid may be served from saidtube.

4. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving a transparent elevated container from which liquid is dispensed,a well through which the liquid dispensed passes, a conduit adapted todrain the contents of said container into said well, an outlet tubeslidably adjustable vertically, closed at its lower end and extendingthrough said well, an opening in said tube at such position as always toremain within said well to admit liquid from the well to the interior ofthe tube, a valve controllingr the How of liquid through said tube,means by which said tube may be raised and lowered, stop mechanism tocontrol the extent to which said tube shall be lowered to insure thedispensing of thev quantity of liquid desired, and vented means securedto the top of said tube to form a capfor same, and a conduit throughwhich liquid may be served from said tube.

5. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving an elevated container from which liquid ,is dispensed, a wellthrough which the liquid dispensed is passed, a conduit adapted to drainthe contents of said container into said well, an outlet tube slidablyadjustable vertically, closed at' its lower end and extending throughsaid well, a-stuiiing box at the lower end and a stuiiing box at theupper end of r` said well through which said tube passes, an

opening in said tube at such a position as always to remain within saidwell to admit li uid from the well to the interior of the tiilie, andvented means secured to the top of'said tube adapted to form a cap forsame and a conduit through which liquid may be served from said tube. i

6. In combination with a liquid measuring 'andpdispensing 'apparatushaving a transparentelevated container from which liquid is dispensed, avertically positioned well out- ',side said container through which theliquid dispensed is passed, a conduit adapted to drain the contents ofsaid container into said well, an outlet tube slidably adjustablevertically, closed at its lower end and extending through said well, astuffing box at the lower end and another at the upper end of said Wellthrough which said tube passes, an opening in said tube at such aposition as alwaysto Iremain within saidwell to admit liquid from thewell to the interior of the tube, the upper discharge end of said tubelformed for connection to a hose, separate guiding means for said tube,a handle by which said tube may be raised and lowered,

and means for cqualizing the pressure on thesurfaces of the liquid insaid container and said tube.

7. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus havinparent elevated container from which liquid is dispensed, means fordelivering liquid to said container, means for draining back the excessliquid from said container, `means for con'ipletelydraining the contentsof said container to the source of supply, a vertically positioned welloutside said container through which the liquid dispensed is passed, aconduit adapted to drain the contents of said container into said well,an outlet tube slidably adjustable vertically, closed at its lower endand extending thro ugh said well,'a stuffing box at the lower end andanother at the upper end of said well through which said tube passes, anopening in said tube at such a position as 'always to remain wit-hinsaid well to admit liquid from the well to the interior of the tube, avalve controlling the flow of liquid through said tube, the upperdischarge end of said tube formed for connection to a hose, separateguiding means for said tube, a 4handle by which said tube may be raisedand la transloo hose and extending vthrough said well, the p outlet endof said tube adapted to take any position below the top of saidcontainer and above the top ofsaid well so that said conta1ner may bedrained to Adiferent levels by adljusting the'vertical height of saidoutlet tu e.

9. In combination with a liquid measur,

ing and dispensing apparatus having a transparent elevated containerfrom which liquid is dispensed, means for delivering liquidto saidcontainer, means for completely draining the contents of said containerto the source of supply, a vertically positioned 'well outside saidcontainerA through which t-he liquid dispensed is passed,a conduitadapted to drain the contents of said container into said well, anoutlet tube slidably adjustable vertically, closed at its lower end, astung box at the lower end and anotherat the upper end of said wellthrough which said vtube passes, an opening in said tube at such apos1tion as always to remain within said well liquid through said tube,the upper disquantity of liquid desired, and meansy for charge end ofsaid tube formed for'connec- -equalizing the pressures on the surfacesof tion to a hose, separate guiding means for the liquid in saidcontainer andv said tube. 10 vsaid tube, a handle by which said tube mayIn'testimony whereof I have hereunto set 6 be raised and lowered, stopmechanism to my hand.

control the extent to which said t-ube shall be lowered to insure thedispensing of the CARROLL L. MERRIMAN.A

